MADRID: The 33rd Joint meeting of the World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO)Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and its Commission for South Asia was held on 14 September 2021. Mr. Aftab Ur Rehman Rana, Managing Director of PTDC participated in these meetings as a representative of Pakistan.
The Member States taking part in these high-level virtual meetings focused on the coordination of policy measures and strategies to accelerate the recovery of tourism activities in the region. These include the phased lifting on travel restrictions and the introduction of travel corridors. Looking ahead, Members also agreed on the importance of upgrading the skills of the tourism labour force, as well as embracing innovation and digital transformation.
Mr. Rana in his speech highlighted the efforts of the present government of Pakistan for the promotion and development of tourism. He Said, “The government of Prime Minister Imran Khan is committed to developing the tourism sector in all the regions of Pakistan and working on different projects to ensure the sustainable and eco-friendly growth of this sector for the socio-economic development and employment generation for the people of Pakistan”. He also shared details about various steps undertaken to accelerate the recovery process of tourism in Pakistan.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili also participate in the meeting. He said: “The Asia and Pacific region has a proven record as a dynamic tourism destination. With the right policy measures and strong coordination, destinations can start safely welcoming back international visitors, thereby allowing tourism to deliver on its potential as a driver of recovery and inclusive growth.”
The meetings were attended by around 120 participants from 25 of UNWTO’s 29 Member States in the region under the chairmanship of Malaysia and the Maldives and concluded with elections and nominations for positions within key UNWTO bodies.
